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The Extended Role of the Nurse in Occupational Mental Health Programs.

The availability of the validation phase of an Industrial Health Foundation course in employee mental health conservation geared to occupational health nurses was announced in this bulletin. Activities of occupational health nurses in promoting occupational mental health included first aid for psychiatric emergencies, crisis intervention at times of emotional stress, emotional support and counsel, referral to sources of care for those with extensive problems, and education. The course consists of three parts. Part 1 is 1 week long and is designed to help students acquire new knowledge and to develop deeper insight basic to effective occupational mental health nursing practice. Part 2 is an 8 to 10 week interim study period during which the students try out the course material on the job. Part 3 involves 3 days of classroom training which enables students to participate in role play learning to clarify the role of the occupational health nurse and to learn how to fulfill their responsibility for occupational mental health. The author concludes that as our needs continue to rise for care and prevention of disease, as well as for health maintenance that focuses on better adaptation to the demands of a society in which mental stability is critical, there is an extended role for occupational health nurses.